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Karzai: Pakistan backs Taliban

December 13, 2006|By Items compiled from Tribune news services

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN — President Hamid Karzai directly accused Pakistan's government Tuesday of supporting the Taliban insurgency in his country, hours after a suicide attacker exploded himself in an Afghan governor's compound, killing eight.

Taliban militants have increasingly targeted government officials with the aim of undermining Karzai's government.

"The problem is not Taliban. We don't see it that way. The problem is with Pakistan," Karzai told foreign journalists.

He said the Taliban took power with support from Pakistan, calling it "more than a boss."

"The state of Pakistan was supporting the Taliban, so we presume if there is still any Taliban, that they are being supported by a state element."

Pakistani officials blame the instability in southern and eastern Afghanistan on a failure by Afghan and international forces to bring security and development to the lawless region, and public dissatisfaction with Karzai's government.